2016 NFL Draft Prospects: breakdown of Georgia’s John Theus
By Jon Dove
Georgia’s John Theus 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report.
John Theus is a size prospect who gained a ton of playing experience while at Georgia. During that time, he has faced top-level competition that comes with an SEC schedule. Theus features some next-level talent, but is far from an elite prospect.
What he brings to the table is good size and long arms. He has a frame that can be molded into an NFL body with more time in the weight room. However, it’s important to note that Theus is basically a finished product with little room to grow as a player.
The problems for Theus start with this lack of strength and tenacity. He struggles gaining inside hands, velcroing to the defender and generating a push. His technique is more centered on getting his body between the defender and the play.
This clip shows Theus getting driven several yards into the backfield which disrupted the timing of the play:
Theus is not the type of blocker who’ll fit a power-run scheme and will also have issues in a zone attack. He just doesn’t have that nasty demeanor evaluators look for in an offensive line prospect. To have any type of future in the NFL, Theus needs to significantly improve his power and play with more of an edge.
His issues aren’t limited to the run game as he also struggles to protect the edge. This clip shows Theus failing to handle a speed rush by the defensive end:
Theus lacks the foot speed to reach the edge and the balance to react to counter moves. NFL pass rushers will easily be able to expose Theus’ weaknesses as they put pressure on the quarterback.
Despite the issues in his game, Theus has a chance to get drafted based on his size. Evaluators are always looking for players that they can mold or coach up. They can’t teach size but feel that it’s possible to improve a player’s strength and technique.
Current Draft Position: 7th Round